Interior rearview mirror assembly with low profile mirror

ABSTRACT

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror mount configured to attach at an interior portion of the vehicle. A mirror head includes a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element. The mirror mount includes a ball element and the mirror head includes a socket element, which pivotally attaches at the ball element forming a ball and socket joint to pivotally mount the mirror head at the mirror mount. The mirror head has a thickness dimension spanning between a front planar surface of said mirror reflective element and a rear surface of a laterally sideward region of the mirror casing, with the thickness dimension being less than 20 mm. A central region of the mirror casing has a thickness dimension greater than 20 mm to accommodate the socket element. The socket element is disposed at an aperture through the central region of the mirror casing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the filing benefits of U.S. provisionalapplications, Ser. No. 62/595,169, filed Dec. 6, 2017, Ser. No.62/587,651, filed Nov. 17, 2017, Ser. No. 62/583,742, filed Nov. 9,2017, and Ser. No. 62/575,649, filed Oct. 23, 2017, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. And the presentapplication is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/712,200, filed May 14, 2015 (Attorney Docket DON01 P2526), whichclaims the filing benefits of U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No.62/032,036, filed Aug. 1, 2014, Ser. No. 62/006,392, filed Jun. 2, 2014,Ser. No. 62/001,350, filed May 21, 2014, and Ser. No. 61/993,333, filedMay 15, 2014, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of mirror elementsfor use in rearview mirror assemblies and visors for vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a mirror reflective element and a bezel for aninterior or exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle. The interiormirror reflective element is adjustably mounted to an interior portionof a vehicle, such as via a double ball pivot or joint mountingconfiguration where the mirror casing and reflective element areadjusted relative to the interior portion of a vehicle by pivotalmovement about the double ball pivot configuration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an interior rearview mirror assembly thathas a mirror reflective element adjustably mounted at an interiorportion of a vehicle and adjustable to adjust the driver's rearwardview, such as through a rear window of the vehicle, via the driverviewing the mirror reflective element. The interior rearview mirrorassembly includes a reduced thickness or thin mirror head pivotallymounted or attached at a mirror mount that is configured to attach at aninterior portion of a vehicle equipped with the interior rearview mirrorassembly. The mirror head comprises a reduced profile mirror casinghaving a thickness between a front generally planar surface of themirror reflective element and a rear surface of the mirror casing, andwherein the thickness is less than about 25 mm. The mirror head has asocket element at a central region of the mirror casing.

The mirror reflective element may comprise an electrically variablereflectance mirror reflective element (such as an electro-optic mirrorreflective element, such as an electrochromic mirror reflective element)and wiring may pass through the pivot joint at the mirror head andmounting stay to electrically connect the electrically conductivecoatings of the mirror reflective element to a vehicle wire harness. Themirror head may include an attachment plate with electrically conductiveelements insert molded therein so as to provide electrical connectionbetween a connector of a wire that electrically connects to the vehiclewire harness and respective electrically conductive coatings of thevariable reflectance mirror reflective element.

The mirror may comprise an electro-optic (such as electrochromic)auto-dimming mirror, and the dimming control of the mirror may beresponsive to a rear backup camera. The rear backup camera maycommunicate a signal to an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle,which then communicates a dimming control signal to the interiorauto-dimming mirror and a dimming control signal to one or more exteriorauto-dimming mirrors, whereby each auto-dimming mirror is independentlydimmed or colored responsive to the rear backup camera, with the degreeof dimming or coloring of each mirror being responsive at least in partto the intensity and location of glare light rearward of the vehicle asdetermined via processing of data captured by the rear backup camera.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an interior rearview mirror assembly inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a thin interior rearview mirror assemblyin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the thin interiorrearview mirror assembly of FIG. 2, with the cover of the mountingstructure removed to show the circuit board therein;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the thin interior rearview mirrorassembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation of the thin interior rearview mirrorassembly;

FIG. 5A is a sectional view of the thin interior rearview mirrorassembly taken along the line A-A in FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the rear of the mirror housing, showingthe socket element disposed thereat;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an attachment plate with integralelectrically conductive elements in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic showing a rear backup camera used for independentdimming control of the interior rearview mirror and of each of theexterior rearview mirrors of the vehicle;

FIG. 9 shows different zones of image data captured by the camera thatare processed to detect glare or to detect ambient light;

FIG. 10 is another image showing different zones of image data capturedby the rear backup camera for detecting glare and ambient light;

FIGS. 11-13 are images showing different grids applied to captured imagedata to provide the desired processing for glare and ambient lightdetection;

FIG. 14 is a graph showing normalized luminosity for the images of FIGS.11-13;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a vehicle having an interior auto-dimmingmirror and driver-side and passenger-side auto-dimming mirrors that areindependently dimmed responsive to image data captured by a rear backupcamera of the vehicle;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a vehicle having an interior auto-dimmingmirror and a driver-side auto-dimming mirror that are independentlydimmed responsive to image data captured by a rear backup camera of thevehicle;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of a vehicle having an interior auto-dimmingmirror that is dimmed responsive to image data captured by a rear backupcamera of the vehicle;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of a vehicle having an interior prismatic mirrorand having driver-side and passenger-side auto-dimming mirrors that areindependently dimmed responsive to image data captured by a rear backupcamera of the vehicle;

FIG. 19 is a plan view of a vehicle having an interior prismatic mirrorand having a driver-side auto-dimming mirror that is dimmed responsiveto image data captured by a rear backup camera of the vehicle; and

FIG. 20 is a plan view of a vehicle having an interior auto-dimmingmirror and a driver-side auto-dimming mirror and a passenger-sideauto-dimming mirror that are independently dimmed responsive to imagedata captured by at least a rear backup camera of a surround view visionsystem of the vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, an interior rearview mirror assembly 10 for a vehicle includesa mirror head 12 having a casing 14 and a reflective element 16positioned at a front portion of the casing 14 (FIG. 1). In theillustrated embodiment, mirror assembly 10 is configured to beadjustably mounted to an interior portion of a vehicle (such as to aninterior or in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield or a headliner of avehicle or the like) via a mounting structure or mounting configurationor assembly 18. The mirror reflective element may comprise a prismaticreflective element or a variable reflectance mirror reflective elementthat varies its reflectance responsive to electrical current applied toconductive coatings or layers of the reflective element.

The interior rearview mirror assembly of the present invention providesa thin or substantially reduced size mirror head or mirror casing, suchas for an electro-optic (such as electrochromic or the like) reflectiveelement or such as for a prismatic reflective element. For example, andsuch as shown in FIGS. 2-6, the mirror head 12 of the mirror assembly 10has a reduced or minimized housing depth. The mirror housing 14 andreflective element 16 thus may have a thin construction. Thus, themirror head of the present invention may have a reduced thicknessdimension (the dimension between the front generally planar surface ofthe reflective element and the rear surface of the mirror casing at agenerally central region of the mirror head), preferably less than about25 mm, such as less than about 20 mm or less than about 15 mm or lessthan about 10 mm, and may have a casing that has radiused or taperedperimeter edge regions. The mirror assembly may utilize aspects of themirror assemblies described in U.S. Publication No. US-2015-0334354,which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The mirror head 12 is pivotally mounted at a mounting structure or stay18, which is configured to mount at an interior structure of a vehicle(such as at a header of a vehicle or such as at a windshield of avehicle) via an attaching structure 20. The mirror head 12 includes asocket 22 at rear of the mirror casing 14, while the mounting structure18 includes a ball member, such that the socket 22 pivotally receivesthe ball member to pivotally attach the mirror head at the mountingstructure or stay. The socket element 22 may comprise a separate piecethat snap attaches or is otherwise fastened at the rear of thereflective element or backing plate or mirror casing, or optionally maybe integrally molded with the backing plate or mirror casing, oroptionally may be insert molded in the backing plate or mirror casing.The ball member may comprise a metallic or plastic ball member and maybe integrally molded with the mirror stay or may be insert molded at themirror stay.

As shown in FIG. 3, the thin mirror assembly 10 may have circuitry or acircuit element or circuit board 26 at or in the mounting arm ormounting structure or stay 18 of the mirror assembly (such as housedwithin a stay housing or casing 28), whereby a rearward viewing sensoror camera may be disposed at the rear of the reflective element (andoptionally a forward viewing sensor or camera may be disposed at therear of the reflective element for sensing forward of the reflectiveelement and through the windshield of the vehicle equipped with themirror assembly). For example, a forward viewing sensor 30 (FIG. 3) maybe disposed at the circuit element 26 and may view forwardly through acover 32 of the mounting structure or stay 18, such as through anaperture 32 a formed through the cover 32, and/or a rearward viewingsensor may be disposed at the circuit element 26 and may view forwardlythrough the housing or casing 28 of the mounting structure or stay 18,such as through an aperture 28 a formed through the housing 28 (FIG. 4).The circuitry may electrically connect to a wiring harness of thevehicle and may power the sensors. The circuitry may also electricallyconnect to terminals of the electrochromic mirror reflective element orcell via one or more wires disposed within the mirror head and at therear of the reflective element, with the wires passing through apassageway formed through the stay and socket and ball member.

Thus, and such as shown in FIGS. 2-4, an interior rearview mirrorassembly of the present invention may have an electrochromic reflectiveelement with a circuit board and sensors disposed in a single-ballmirror mounting stay or structure, which is configured to attach at aninterior structure of the vehicle. The sensors include a forward facingambient light sensor that views through an aperture in the mountingstructure and forwardly through the windshield of the vehicle when themirror assembly is mounted in the vehicle. The sensors also include arearward facing glare light sensor that views through an aperture in themounting structure and views rearward over the reflective element andtowards the rear window of the vehicle (so as to detect glare lightemanating from vehicles following the subject or equipped vehicle). Thesensors are disposed at a circuit element or circuit board disposed inthe mounting structure, such as in a similar manner as described above.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2-4, the apertures are in the mount or stay,with the glare aperture established just above (or optionally below) themirror reflective element edge so as to view rearward above or below thereflective element to capture or view glare lighting. The aperture inthe mirror mount that faces forward allows for viewing forward by theambient light sensor for sensing ambient light. The present inventionthus provides for a much thinner packaging of the mirror head, andallows for a reduction of a wiring harness by allowing for a directconnection to the PCB from the vehicle harness (such as at the headlinerof the vehicle or the like), which is also a cost reduction feature. Themirror reflective element thus is simplified, thinner and lighter thanprevious mirror elements, including previous frameless mirror elements,and provides for creative styling to enhance the mirror's appearance.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 5A and 6, the mirror housing or casing comprises acover element that has side regions that are generally parallel to therear of the reflective element, such that the reflective element may beadhesively attached directly to the mirror housing. As shown in FIG. 5A,the center region of the mirror housing may also provide an attachingsurface at which the center region of the mirror reflective element isadhesively attached. In the illustrated embodiment, the housingpartially receives the reflective element therein, such that a perimeterportion of the housing circumscribes the rear glass substrate of theelectro-optic reflective element, with the front glass substrate havinga rounded or curved perimeter edge to provide a rounded transition froma planar front or first surface of the reflective element to a sidesurface of the housing. Optionally, the housing may extend over andcircumscribe the perimeter edge of the front substrate, whereby thehousing may provide a rounded or curved perimeter region to provide arounded transition from the planar front or first surface of thereflective element to the side surface of the housing.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 5A and 6, the center region of the mirror housing14 is raised so as to house the socket element 22. The socket element 22may be integrated into the mirror head. For example, the socket may beattached at the housing and the reflective element may be attached atthe housing (such as by attaching the socket element at the housingbefore the reflective element is adhered to the housing, such that thesocket element is retained in a receiving portion of the housing.

Optionally, the reflective element may be attached at an attachmentplate and the socket may be attached at the opposite side of theattachment plate, with the housing attaching at the attachment plate.For example, and with reference to FIG. 7, an attachment plate 34 maycomprise a generally planar plate structure with bosses or threadedstanchions 36 at which the socket element may be attached (such as via aplurality of fasteners). Electrical connection to the electro-opticreflective element may be made via electrically conductive elements 38disposed at or insert molded in the attachment plate. In the illustratedembodiment, the electrically conductive elements are insert molded atthe attaching plate with connecting terminals 38 a extending orprotruding from the attaching plate for electrical connection to anelectrical connector of a wire 40 (that may be routed through the ballmember and socket for electrical connection of the conductive elementsto a vehicle wire harness or the like) and with cell connectingterminals 38 b disposed at recesses 34 a of the attaching plate 34, suchthat the cell connecting terminals engage conductive traces or busbarsor coatings at the rear or fourth surface of the electro-opticreflective element or cell and may be soldered thereat.

Thus, the attachment plate may include wires or a stamping or the likethat interfaces directly with the electro-optic reflective element orcell solder tab. Optionally, the connecting terminals of the attachingplate may connect to the electro-optic reflective element or cell viasolder or via extendable/retractable spring biased pins or springcontacts or conductive compressible material or the like. The connectorterminal side of the conductive elements may be held at the housing orat the attachment plate. The vehicle side connector or wire may connectto the connector terminals of the conductive elements through thehousing or through the mirror stay and ball member.

Thus, the circuit board is disposed outside of the mirror head orreflective element assembly, and is mounted in the single ball mirrormounting structure or stay. Such a configuration eliminates a wiringharness that would extend from the stay to the mirror head (with theexception that two wires may be routed through the single ball forelectrical connection to the electrochromic mirror reflective element orcell). The sensors view out from behind the stay cover or mount coverand through respective apertures in the cover. Optionally, one or bothsensors or sensing functions (glare light sensing and ambient lightsensing) may be integrated in a respective camera (such as a rearwardviewing camera and a forward viewing camera).

Optionally, the mirror assembly may have its dimming control beresponsive to image data captured by a rearward viewing camera of thevehicle (such as a rear backup camera of the vehicle), such as byutilizing aspects of the systems described in International PublicationNo. WO 2017/191558, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference inits entirety. In accordance with such a system, the rear backup camera(FIG. 8) may include processing capabilities or the processor may bepart of a backup assist system or the like, where the processor isoperable to process image data captured by the rear camera to determineluminance and glare in the captured image data (such as via processingthe internal registers to the camera, which contain luminance data foreach location or for configurable locations). Responsive todetermination of glare (via low-level processing of luminance data), thesystem may control the EC cell of the interior rearview mirror and/orthe EC cell of one or both of the exterior mirrors of the vehicle.

The system thus provides independent EC dimming for each mirror (basedon where the glare light is detected in the captured image data), so thesystem may only dim the interior rearview mirror or may only dim thepassenger-side exterior rearview mirror, or may dim any two of themirrors, depending on the light detection by the rear backup camera.Optionally, the vehicle may have a prismatic interior rearview mirrorand electro-optic (such as electrochromic) exterior mirrors, whereby thebackup camera captures image data that is processed to determine glarefor dimming either or both of the exterior rearview mirrors.

For example, and such as shown in FIG. 9, the backup camera data can bebroken up into a 5×5 grid or 25 sub cells. The internal registers to thecamera contain the luminance data for each cell.

As shown in FIG. 9, the rear camera may be used as a sensor for ambientconditions and for glare conditions for the inside and outside mirrors.The processor processes the captured image data and the system controlsauto-dimming (such as EC or electrochromic dimming) independently basedon where the glare is detected by the imager of the rear backup camera.Specified zones are designated for ambient light and glare lightdetection. The amount of glare detected in each zone determines thestate of the EC dimming for each mirror independently.

As shown in FIG. 10, the zones and 5×5 grid may be applied at anappropriate location of the overall field of view of the rear backupcamera, such as where glare light is expected to be detected by rearwardapproaching vehicles. The grid may be adjustable depending on the lightdetected by the rear backup camera. For example, when the detected lightis far away (such as shown in FIG. 10), the grid may be at an upperregion of the captured image data, and when the light is closer, thegrid may be at a lower region of the captured image data. For example,and such as can be seen with reference to FIGS. 11-13, the grid may beadjusted or varied for particular applications or responsive to thelight intensity of regions of the captured image data (such as byproviding a consistent mathematical relationship between the grid “area”and the calculated lux. The grid size can thus be changed dynamicallywhile still maintaining the desired performance of the rear backupcamera as a glare light sensor for the interior and/or exterior mirrors(compare, for example, the normalized luminosity graphs of FIG. 14 forGrid 1 (FIG. 11), Grid 2 (FIG. 12) and Grid 3 (FIG. 13)).

The mirror head thus may comprise a simpler, lower cost mirror head,since the EC drive circuitry may be disposed outside of the mirror head.For example, while a typical circuit board for an interiorelectrochromic mirror head may include a glare light sensor, an ambientlight sensor, and EC drive, and a microprocessor, the system of thepresent invention allows for at least elimination of the glare lightsensor and ambient light sensor, and may also allow for elimination ofthe microcontroller. Optionally, if the EC drive is also eliminated fromthe mirror head, the mirror head may simply have a wire EC connectionthat is connected to a wire harness that communicates the appropriatesignal or current to the mirror head to power/dim the electrochromicmirror reflective element (such as, for example, similar to what isshown in FIG. 7). In such an embodiment, the rear backup camera may beconnected to a LIN bus and the system may include a LIN EC drive module.The camera may be powered at all times, and the vehicle ECU may providepower or voltage (such as a 1.25 V pulse width modulation or PWM signal)to the mirror or mirrors.

Thus, the present invention (utilizing a rear backup camera for ambientand glare light sensing) provides a lower cost mirror, and may provide athinner and lighter mirror head (due to the reduction or elimination ofthe PCB assemblies). Because the ambient sensor is part of the rearbackup camera, the ambient sensor is no longer located in the vehicle,such that the system is not adversely affected by cabin lights or byforward lights (such as reflections off of a garage wall of light fromthe vehicle's headlights when the vehicle is being backed out of thegarage). Also, the auto-dimming performance is not impacted or effectedby objects that may be hanging from the interior mirror or the like.

Because the ambient and glare light sensing is done by the rear backupcamera, the camera should have a clear view rearward of the vehicle.Because the rear backup camera typically does not view through the rearwindow of the vehicle, the amount of glare detected by the camera may bedifferent than the glare at the interior rearview mirror (due to tintingof the rear window). Thus, the system may adjust or vary the processingresponsive to a determined or input level of tint of the rear window, sothat the glare is properly determined by the rear backup camera.Optionally, the rear viewing camera may be disposed behind and viewingthrough the rear window (such as at a region swept by a rear windshieldwiper), such that the tint is at least partially taken into accountbefore processing.

The rear backup camera may communicate signals (such as via a LINcommunication bus or CAN bus or an I2C communication or the like) to ahead unit or ECU of the vehicle, which may process the captured data andcommunicate signals to the appropriate mirror (e.g., directly or viaanother controller or bus node or the like) or to a door module of thevehicle (for the exterior mirrors). For example, the head unit or ECUmay communicate signals to an EC driver of the respective mirrors,whereby the signals are representative of the processed glare light andambient light, and the EC driver then generates the appropriate currentor output to provide the appropriate dimming of the respective mirror.Optionally, for example, the head unit or ECU may communicate powersignals that are provided directly to the EC cells of the respectivemirrors to individually control dimming of the mirrors.

Conventionally, vehicles, such as cars, SUVs, light trucks, vans, etc.,when equipped with an electrochromic rearview mirror, are outfitted withat least an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly. Often, atleast one driver-side exterior sideview mirror, and often both adriver-side and a passenger-side electrochromic exterior sideviewmirror, are provided at the vehicle, but with the interiorelectrochromic rearview mirror assembly providing electrochromic dimmingcontrol for the exterior electrochromic side-view assemblies, which actas slave mirrors to the master control of the interior electrochromicassembly.

While this works well in many vehicles, it does not work in the likes ofvans, shuttle buses, and similar vehicles, where either no rear windowis provided for an interior rearview mirror assembly to view through, orwhere the interior rearview mirror's view rearward of the vehicle isobstructed. Moreover, even when such is not the case, provision of thelikes of a driver-side electrochromic sideview mirror assembly requiresthe presence of an interior electrochromic mirror assembly, thuspotentially driving costs of the overall system.

The electrochromic rearview mirror element typically requires a directcurrent (DC) voltage in the range of more than 0 volts to 1.5 volts orthereabouts, in order to achieve electrochromic dimming. Moreover, whenelectrochromic dimming, and depending on the surface area of theelectrochromic active region of the mirror, the current draw by theelectrochromic mirror element can be in the range of 50 mA to 150 mA orthereabouts.

In accordance with the present invention, the rear backup cameraprovides dual functionality of both serving as a FMVSS-111 compliantrear backup camera and also capturing ambient light and glaring lightdata, as discussed above. In a preferred embodiment, and such as shownin FIG. 15, the vehicle has an interior electrochromic or auto-dimmingmirror and both a driver-side and passenger-side electrochromic orauto-dimming mirror. The backup camera communicates data to anelectronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle, such as over a CAN bus orLIN bus or I2C communication or the like. The ECU can drive the interiorauto-dimming mirror independently or another control unit of the vehiclecan drive the mirror. The vehicle includes a door module unit (DMU) ateach of the driver-side door and the passenger-side door. The ECUcommunicates with the DMU, such as over a CAN bus or a LIN bus or an I2Ccommunication or the like. The driver-side DMU drives the driver-sideexterior auto-dimming mirror independently, and the passenger-side DMUdrives the passenger-side exterior auto-dimming mirror independently.The backup camera thus determines when any one (or more) of theauto-dimming mirrors independently colors or dims.

Optionally, and such as shown in FIG. 16, the vehicle may not have anauto-dimming passenger-side mirror. In such an embodiment, the ECU,responsive to communication from the rear backup camera, communicatescontrol signals to the interior auto-dimming mirror and to thedriver-side DMU, which drives the driver-side exterior auto-dimmingmirror independently of the interior auto-dimming mirror. Optionally,and such as shown in FIG. 17, the vehicle may not have a driver-side ora passenger-side auto-dimming mirror, whereby the ECU may, responsive tosignals received from the rear backup camera, communicate controlsignals to the interior auto-dimming mirror.

Optionally, and such as shown in FIG. 18, the vehicle may include adriver-side exterior auto-dimming mirror and a passenger-side exteriorauto-dimming mirror, and a prismatic (non-auto-dimming) interior mirror.In such an embodiment, the ECU, responsive to signals received from therear backup camera, communicates with the driver-side DMU and thepassenger-side DMU, such as over a CAN bus or a LIN bus or an I2Ccommunication or the like. The driver-side DMU drives the driver-sideexterior auto-dimming mirror independently, and the passenger-side DMUdrives the passenger-side exterior auto-dimming mirror independently.The backup camera thus determines when either or both of the exteriorauto-dimming mirrors independently colors or dims. Optionally, and suchas shown in FIG. 19, the vehicle may not have an auto-dimmingpassenger-side mirror. In such an embodiment, the ECU, responsive tocommunication from the rear backup camera, communicates control signalsto the driver-side DMU, which drives the driver-side exteriorauto-dimming mirror.

Optionally, and such as shown in FIG. 20, the vehicle may have asurround view vision system that comprises a plurality of exteriorviewing cameras, including a rear backup camera, a front forward viewingcamera, and opposite side side-mounted sideward viewing cameras. In theillustrated embodiment, the vision system includes twowindshield-mounted, forward viewing cameras and a bed camera (that viewsinto the bed of the pickup truck) and a rearward viewing camera forcapturing image data to provide a rear view display at the full mirrordisplay (such as by utilizing aspects of the display systems describedin U.S. Publication Nos. US-2018-0251069; US-2017-0355312;US-2017-0297498 and/or US-2016-0375833, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

As shown in FIG. 20, the ECU communicates with each of the cameras ofthe vehicle vision system and communicates with the interiorauto-dimming mirror and with the door module units (which communicatewith the exterior auto-dimming mirrors). The backup camera communicatesdata to the electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle, such as over aCAN bus or LIN bus or I2C communication or the like. The ECU can drivethe interior auto-dimming mirror independently or another control unitof the vehicle can drive the mirror. The vehicle includes a door moduleunit (DMU) at each of the driver-side door and the passenger-side door.The ECU communicates with the DMUs, such as over a CAN bus or a LIN busor an I2C communication or the like. The driver-side DMU drives thedriver-side exterior auto-dimming mirror independently (responsive tothe communication from the ECU), and the passenger-side DMU drives thepassenger-side exterior auto-dimming mirror independently (responsive tothe communication from the ECU). The backup camera thus determines whenany one (or more) of the auto-dimming mirrors independently colors ordims. Optionally, the ECU may generate the signals to the interiorauto-dimming mirror and/or the DMUs responsive to image data receivedfrom one or more of the other cameras of the vehicle.

Thus, the system of the present invention can, using the rear backupcamera (and not using a separate ambient light sensor and glare sensor),independently control the dimming or coloring of each of theauto-dimming mirrors of the vehicle, responsive at least in part towhere glare light is detected (via processing of data captured by therear backup camera) rearward of the vehicle. The ECU is operable tocommunicate with the DMU(s) to provide control instructions or signalsfor the respective auto-dimming exterior mirror. The DMUs may compriseLIN modules, and the ECU communicates a control signal to each DMU thatindicates the amount of dimming for that respective exterior mirror,whereby the DMU then generates a 1.3 volt or 1.5 volt signal and usingPWM, it communicates the appropriate signal to that exterior mirror todim that mirror the appropriate amount. Since the camera is alreadyproviding information onto the network or bus, the camera's informationor data can be of the same type of information and can be used insteadof the information provided by a known EC driver of an interior rearviewmirror (which conventionally would drive the dimming of the exteriormirror or mirrors). Since the LIN door controller modules are alreadythere, they can independently dim the exterior mirrors (independent evenof the presence of an auto-dimming interior mirror) responsive to thecommunication from the ECU (instead of the interior mirror EC driver).

The mirror assembly may comprise any suitable construction, such as, forexample, a mirror assembly with the reflective element being nested inthe mirror casing and with a bezel portion that circumscribes aperimeter region of the front surface of the reflective element, or withthe mirror casing having a curved or beveled perimeter edge around thereflective element and with no overlap onto the front surface of thereflective element (such as by utilizing aspects of the mirrorassemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,255,451; 7,289,037 and/or7,360,932, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties), or such as a mirror assembly having a rear substrate of anelectro-optic or electrochromic reflective element nested in the mirrorcasing, and with the front substrate having curved or beveled perimeteredges, or such as a mirror assembly having a prismatic reflectiveelement that is disposed at an outer perimeter edge of the mirror casingand with the prismatic substrate having curved or beveled perimeteredges (such as by utilizing aspects of the mirror assemblies describedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,508,831; 8,730,553; 9,598,016 and/or 9,346,403,and/or U.S. Publication Nos. US-2014-0313563 and/or US-2015-0097955,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties,and with electrochromic and prismatic mirrors of such construction arecommercially available from the assignee of this application under thetrade name INFINITY™ mirror).

As discussed above, the mirror assembly may comprise an electro-optic orelectrochromic mirror assembly that includes an electro-optic orelectrochromic reflective element. The perimeter edges of the reflectiveelement may be encased or encompassed by the perimeter element orportion of the bezel portion to conceal and contain and envelop theperimeter edges of the substrates and the perimeter seal disposedtherebetween. The electrochromic mirror element of the electrochromicmirror assembly may utilize the principles disclosed in commonlyassigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,274,501; 7,255,451; 7,195,381; 7,184,190;6,690,268; 5,140,455; 5,151,816; 6,178,034; 6,154,306; 6,002,544;5,567,360; 5,525,264; 5,610,756; 5,406,414; 5,253,109; 5,076,673;5,073,012; 5,117,346; 5,724,187; 5,668,663; 5,910,854; 5,142,407 and/or4,712,879, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2010/029173, filed Mar. 30,2010, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

Optionally, the reflective element may include an opaque orsubstantially opaque or hiding perimeter layer or coating or banddisposed around a perimeter edge region of the front substrate (such asat a perimeter region of the rear or second surface of the frontsubstrate) to conceal or hide or the perimeter seal from viewing by thedriver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is normally mounted inthe vehicle. Such a hiding layer or perimeter band may be reflective ornot reflective and may utilize aspects of the perimeter bands and mirrorassemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,066,112; 7,626,749; 7,274,501;7,184,190 and/or 7,255,451, and/or International Publication Nos. WO2010/124064 and/or WO 2011/044312, and/or U.S. Pat. Pub. No.US-2006-0061008, which are all hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entireties. Optionally, the perimeter band may comprise achrome/chromium coating or metallic coating and/or may comprise achrome/chromium or metallic coating that has a reduced reflectance, suchas by using an oxidized chrome coating or chromium oxide coating or“black chrome” coating or the like (such as by utilizing aspects of themirror assemblies described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,184,190 and/or 7,255,451,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties).Optionally, other opaque or substantially opaque coatings or bands maybe implemented while remaining within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention.

The mirror assembly may comprise or utilize aspects of other types ofcasings or the like, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,338,177;7,289,037; 7,249,860; 6,439,755; 4,826,289 and/or 6,501,387, which areall hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, withoutaffecting the scope of the present invention. For example, the mirrorassembly may utilize aspects of the flush or frameless or bezellessreflective elements described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,626,749; 7,360,932;7,289,037; 7,255,451; 7,274,501 and/or 7,184,190, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Although shown as an electrochromic mirror application, it is envisionedthat the mirror assembly may comprise a prismatic reflective element,while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.The prismatic mirror assembly may be mounted or attached at an interiorportion of a vehicle (such as at an interior surface of a vehiclewindshield) via the mounting means described above, and the reflectiveelement may be toggled or flipped or adjusted between its daytimereflectivity position and its nighttime reflectivity position via anysuitable toggle means, such as by utilizing aspects of the mirrorassemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,318,870 and/or 7,249,860,and/or U.S. Publication No. US-2010-0085653, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, forexample, the interior rearview mirror assembly may comprise a prismaticmirror assembly, such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,289,037; 7,420,756; 7,274,501; 7,338,177; 7,255,451; 7,249,860;6,318,870; 6,598,980; 5,327,288; 4,948,242; 4,826,289; 4,436,371 and4,435,042, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. A variety of mirror accessories and constructions are knownin the art, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,555,136;5,582,383; 5,680,263; 5,984,482; 6,227,675; 6,229,319 and/or 6,315,421(which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties),that can benefit from the present invention.

Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments maybe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An interior rearview mirror assembly for avehicle, said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising: a mirrormount configured to attach at an interior portion of a vehicle equippedwith said interior rearview mirror assembly, said mirror mountcomprising a ball element; a mirror head comprising a mirror casing anda mirror reflective element, said mirror head comprising a socketelement; wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a variablereflectance electro- optic mirror reflective element; wherein saidvariable reflectance electro-optic mirror reflective element is attachedat an attachment plate; circuitry for controlling an electro-opticmirror dimming feature of said variable reflectance electro-optic mirrorreflective element, wherein said circuitry is disposed at said mirrormount; wherein said attachment plate comprises electrically conductiveelements insert molded therein, and wherein a connector end of saidelectrically conductive elements is configured to electrically connectto a connector for electrically connecting said electrically conductiveelements to a vehicle wire harness when said mirror mount is attached atthe interior portion of the vehicle, and wherein a reflective elementconnecting end of each of said electrically conductive elements isconfigured to electrically connect to a respective electricallyconductive coating of said variable reflectance electro-optic mirrorreflective element; wherein said socket element pivotally attaches atsaid ball element forming a ball and socket joint to pivotally mountsaid mirror head at said mirror mount; wherein said mirror headcomprises a reduced profile mirror head having a side region thicknessdimension spanning between a front planar surface of said mirrorreflective element and a rear surface of a laterally sideward region ofsaid mirror casing, and wherein the side region thickness dimension isless than 20 mm; wherein a central region of said mirror casing has acentral region thickness dimension spanning between the front planarsurface of said mirror reflective element and a rear surface of saidcentral region of said mirror casing, and wherein the central regionthickness dimension is greater than 20 mm to accommodate said socketelement; and wherein said socket element is disposed at an aperturethrough the central region of said mirror casing.
 2. The interiorrearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the side region thicknessdimension of said laterally sideward regions is less than 15 mm.
 3. Theinterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said variablereflectance electro-optic mirror reflective element connecting ends ofsaid electrically conductive elements are soldered at a rear surface ofsaid variable reflectance electro-optic mirror reflective element. 4.The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said socketelement is attached at said attachment plate.
 5. The interior rearviewmirror assembly of claim 1, comprising a circuit board having circuitryassociated with the electro-optic mirror dimming feature, wherein saidcircuit board is disposed in said mirror mount.
 6. The interior rearviewmirror assembly of claim 5, wherein wiring passes through said ball andsocket joint to electrically connect to the circuitry to said variablereflectance electro-optic mirror reflective element.
 7. The interiorrearview mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein said circuitry isresponsive to processing of data captured by a rear backup camera of thevehicle.
 8. A mirror control system for a vehicle, said mirror controlsystem comprising: a rear backup camera disposed at a rear portion of avehicle and having a field of view rearward of the vehicle, said rearbackup camera capturing image data; an electronic control unit of thevehicle, wherein said electronic control unit is in communication withsaid rear backup camera and receives image data captured by said rearbackup camera; wherein said electronic control unit, responsive toprocessing captured image data received from said rear backup camera,determines ambient light rearward of the vehicle; wherein saidelectronic control unit, responsive to processing captured image datareceived from said rear backup camera, determines glare light presentrearward of the vehicle; wherein said electronic control unit,responsive to processing captured image data received from said rearbackup camera, determines location of the determined glare light in thefield of view of said rear backup camera; wherein said electroniccontrol unit generates at least one output to control dimming of atleast one auto-dimming mirror of the vehicle responsive to thedetermined glare light and responsive to the determined location of thedetermined glare light rearward of the vehicle and in the field of viewof said rear backup camera; wherein ambient light is determined viaprocessing a first subset of image data captured by said rear backupcamera, and wherein glare light is determined via processing a secondsubset of image data captured by said rear backup camera; wherein thefirst subset of captured image data is different than the second subsetof captured image data; and wherein processing at said electroniccontrol unit of the second subset of captured image data distinguishesglare light from ambient light, and wherein processing at saidelectronic control unit of the first subset of captured image datadistinguishes ambient light from glare light.
 9. The mirror controlsystem of claim 8, wherein the at least one auto-dimming mirrorcomprises a driver-side exterior auto-dimming mirror.
 10. The mirrorcontrol system of claim 9, wherein said electronic control unitcommunicates an output to a door module unit at the driver-side door,and wherein said door module unit communicates a control signal to saiddriver-side exterior auto-dimming mirror.
 11. The mirror control systemof claim 8, wherein the at least one auto-dimming mirror comprises aninterior auto-dimming mirror and a driver-side exterior auto-dimmingmirror, and wherein said electronic control unit, responsive to locationof determined glare light rearward of the vehicle and in the field ofview of said rear backup camera, generates respective outputs toindependently control dimming of the interior auto-dimming mirror andthe driver-side exterior auto-dimming mirror.
 12. The mirror controlsystem of claim 8, wherein the at least one auto-dimming mirrorcomprises an interior auto-dimming mirror, a driver-side exteriorauto-dimming mirror and a passenger-side exterior auto-dimming mirror,and wherein said electronic control unit, responsive to the determinedlocation of determined glare light rearward of the vehicle and in thefield of view of said rear backup camera, generates respective outputsto independently control dimming of the interior auto-dimming mirror,the driver-side exterior auto-dimming mirror and the passenger-sideexterior auto-dimming mirror.
 13. The mirror control system of claim 8,wherein the at least one auto-dimming mirror comprises a driver-sideexterior auto-dimming mirror and a passenger-side exterior auto-dimmingmirror, and wherein the vehicle includes an interior prismatic mirror,and wherein said electronic control unit, responsive to location ofdetermined glare light rearward of the vehicle and in the field of viewof said rear backup camera, generates respective outputs toindependently control dimming of the driver-side exterior auto-dimmingmirror and the passenger-side exterior auto-dimming mirror.
 14. Themirror control system of claim 8, wherein the second subset of imagedata captured by said rear backup camera is dynamically adjustedresponsive to at least one selected from the group consisting of (i)distance to a detected rearward approaching vehicle and (ii) lightintensity detected at the second subset of image data captured by saidrear backup camera.
 15. An interior rearview mirror control system for avehicle, said interior rearview mirror control system comprising: aninterior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror mount configuredto attach at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with saidinterior rearview mirror assembly, said mirror mount comprising a ballelement; said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a mirror headcomprising a mirror casing and a mirror reflective element, said mirrorhead comprising a socket element; wherein said mirror reflective elementcomprises a variable reflectance electro- optic mirror reflectiveelement; wherein said socket element pivotally attaches at said ballelement forming a ball and socket joint to pivotally mount said mirrorhead at said mirror mount; wherein said mirror head comprises a reducedprofile mirror head having a side region thickness dimension spanningbetween a front planar surface of said mirror reflective element and arear surface of a laterally sideward region of said mirror casing, andwherein the side region thickness dimension is less than 20 mm; whereina central region of said mirror casing has a central region thicknessdimension spanning between the front planar surface of said mirrorreflective element and a rear surface of said central region of saidmirror casing, and wherein the central region thickness dimension isgreater than 20 mm to accommodate said socket element; wherein saidsocket element is disposed at an aperture through the central region ofsaid mirror casing; an electronic control unit of the vehicle, whereinsaid electronic control unit is in communication with a rear backupcamera disposed at the rear of the vehicle so as to have a field of viewrearward of the vehicle, and wherein said electronic control unitreceives signals from the rear backup camera; wherein said electroniccontrol unit, responsive to processing signals received from the rearbackup camera, determines glare light present rearward of the vehicleand in the field of view of the rear backup camera; wherein saidelectronic control unit, responsive to processing captured image datareceived from the rear backup camera, determines location of thedetermined glare light in the field of view of the rear backup camera;wherein said electronic control unit generates at least one output tocontrol dimming of at least said variable reflectance electro-opticmirror reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assemblyresponsive to the determined glare light and responsive to thedetermined location of the determined glare light rearward of thevehicle and in the field of view of the rear backup camera; and whereinsaid electronic control unit, responsive to processing signals receivedfrom the rear backup camera, determines ambient light rearward of thevehicle, and wherein ambient light is determined via processing adifferent subset of image data captured by the rear backup camera thanthe subset of captured image data processed to determine glare light.16. The interior rearview mirror control system of claim 15, whereinsaid variable reflectance electro-optic mirror reflective element isattached at an attachment plate, and wherein said attachment platecomprises electrically conductive elements insert molded therein, andwherein a connector end of said electrically conductive elements isconfigured to electrically connect to a connector for electricallyconnecting said electrically conductive elements to a vehicle wireharness when said mirror mount is attached at the interior portion ofthe vehicle, and wherein a reflective element connecting end of each ofsaid electrically conductive elements is configured to electricallyconnect to a respective electrically conductive coating of said variablereflectance electro-optic mirror reflective element, and wherein saidsocket element is attached at said attachment plate.
 17. The interiorrearview mirror control system of claim 15, wherein said electroniccontrol unit, responsive to the determined location of the determinedglare light rearward of the vehicle and in the field of view of the rearbackup camera, generates respective outputs to independently controldimming of a driver-side exterior auto-dimming mirror of the vehicle anda passenger-side exterior auto-dimming mirror of the vehicle.